Ella's Kitchen - are they really worth the price?

[AlphaBlocks]

So I went to buy some Ella's Kitchen pouches for my 7 month old today. I've bought them before just because they were on offer in Boots and went out with the Express purpose of getting them again but saw loads of other brands, much cheaper, in Asda. Now I don't often use puree foods, they're more of a back up if I'm going out and want to grab & run or I'm too tired to make anything else so LO will have maximum of one per day (if that!).

When I saw all the others, I did wonder why Ella's Kitchen was so much more expensive comparatively and actually bought another brand (again, as its only a back up option every now and then). The marketing is better as the packet has a comtemporary design and also, it comes in a pouch rather than a jar which also looks more pleasing. But is that it? Or is there something significantly better about Ella's Kitchen compared to the other brands? Or like me, is it just that this is the brand I've seen all the other mummies use/seen in Boots so have just gone with that one? The flavours don't seem all that exciting or different from the cow and gate jars so don't think that's it (again apart from the marketing team having exciting names for them)

Genuinely interested from those who use Ella and those who use other brands (or "Ella" herself! I understand she uses Mumsnet) Thank you all!

Ella's kitchen is 100% organic, that could attract a premium

The pouches are definately better than the jars, they don't have the same added preservatives ect. They are of course all organic too, and they taste better!

However the aldi and Lidl versions are comparable and much cheaper. The Sainsbury's own brand ones are nice as well.

You could always buy the reusable pouches from amazon and fill them yourself. Mine loved Greek yoghurt mixed with various stores fruits. Easy to freeze and get out as needed. Although I appreciate you’re looking for a ‘quick and easy’ option. To be honest, they all just taste the same to me so I wouldn’t go overly expensive.

It's just a marketing ploy, just like formula milks, all baby food are much the same.

All baby food for sale (organic or non-organic) has to meet the same food safety standards designed to assure customers of safety and quality. The levels of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers are all strictly regulated. Ella's kitchen have just been very good at capturing the middle class mummy market.

Aldi do own brand baby pouches too.

@Invisimamma this is exactly what I was wondering! I bought them without even thinking the first time so clearly their marketing is working very well!!

@scaredofthecity thanks for your response! The only additional ingredients I could see were wheat starch (or other starches) & rapeseed oil. I don't know if these make any discernible different to the food itself.

We used the Aldi yoghurt ones in place of Ella's and DC ate them just as happily!

Do you mean the jars?

If so, have you bought a jar and had a look?! They are pretty grim compared with the pouches, and everything has an orange tinge. Plus the consistency is a bit gloopy.

Personally I decided it was worth buying the pouches, especially when they're a similar price in aldi.

The organic label is a marketing ploy. The food isn't any healthier because of it. The main ingredient for many of their pouch foods is apple - making them much sweeter than some other brands.

@scaredofthecity so not the Ella's Kitchen brand? Just pouches in general? I didn't realise the the contents were so different, I thought it was the same stuff in a different container

I use a mix of pouches from Heinz by Nature, Aldi/Lidl/Sainsbury's own, Ella and the odd jar for porridge. DS eats all of them and the ingredients seem identical.

I've heard people say EC uses fruit as a main ingredient but I've checked the labels and this doesn't bear out . It's mostly veg stock and a small amount of fruit.

Anyway, I too bought a whole load off the back of the boots offer. I can't get my dc to eat anything but prepared food.

Can anyone recommend something to cook that's of a similar texture?

I've mashed up potatoes with cream cheese, made it watery but that doesn't go down well. She'll eat a tiny bit but will finish a whole EC pouch . She'll eat porridge and purée fruits

Tried mushy peas and broccoli- eats a tiny bit

Tried sweet potatoes- eats a tiny bit

Omelette- eats a tiny bit

Rice and chicken

I've tried mixing EC with the above too and still she'll eat very little

I don't do BLW because it's too messy and she doesn't really eat much anyway

Those pouches aren't recyclable - I don't get it. Switched to the jarred stuff myself for this very reason, although like yourself I only use them as an occasional backup. Didn't notice any added preservatives in the ones I bought...